June 11, 2011 | 12:05 pm (LA Times) A day after unions representing truck drivers, firefighters, teachers and others pledged their support if Southern California grocery workers do decide to strike, Vons, Ralphs and Albertsons said they have reached a tentative agreement with the area United Food and Commercial Workers locals on the pension portion of the current labor contract negotiations.

Terms of the agreement, which was announced late Friday, were not disclosed.
The union?s contract expired in March, and members have already authorized a strike. Negotiations are being conducted under the supervision of a federal mediator, and are continuing.

Sources from both the employers and the UFCW have said the pension was, so far, less rancorous an issue on the table than others, including changes in employee contributions to healthcare.

(June 7, 2011) Bakersfield - Southern California's grocery workers received a boost today when the Kern, Inyo and Mono Counties Central Labor Council pledged its full support in the event of a strike against the Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons supermarket chains.

The CLC is the umbrella organization of 24 labor unions in the three counties. One of those unions, UFCW 8-Golden State, is among seven UFCW local unions in Southern California that have been negotiating with the chains since March.

“The 62,000 union grocery workers in Southern California deserve our unequivocal support in their quest for a contract that protects their health care and pensions,” CLC President Donny Williams said.

“The supermarket companies are making strong profits and have a responsibility to take care of the workers who make those profits possible.”

In 2003 and 2004, UFCW members in Southern California held the line in a 141-day labor dispute that caused the employers an estimated $2 billion in losses.

“Nobody wants another labor dispute, but if that is what it required for the workers to get a fair and equitable contract, they will have our full backing,” Williams said.

With headquarters in Bakersfield the Kern, Inyo, and Mono Central Labor Council includes the California Federation of Teachers, the California Nurses Association, CSEA Chapter 48, CWA Local 9416, Engineers & Scientists of California, GCIU Local 404M, Heat & Frost Insulators #5, IBEW Local 1245, IBEW Local 428, IBEW Local 47, the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, Iron Workers 155, the KIMC Building Trades Council, Operating Engineers Local 12, Operating Engineers Local 501, Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 460, Roofers Local 27, SEIU Local 521, SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West, UFCW 8 Golden State and United Domestic Workers of America.